Pakistan: 'Only Asia Bibi can demand a review of her sentence', not the radicals

by Shafique Khokhar

The Christian woman was acquitted of blasphemy charges. The law provides that only the injured party can appeal against a ruling by the Supreme Court. Activist: "The judges will not change their mind".

The debate surrounding the woman, a mother of five children, acquitted by the judges of the supreme court, is still alive in the country. The Pakistani law provides that the request for revision of the sentence of the last degree of judgment can be presented only by the injured party. In this case, Asia Bibi.

At this point, however, it is up to the judges to decide whether to accept the request. They have not yet made it known how they intend to proceed. However, Nadeem Walter is certain that "the sentence will not change and Asia Bibi will be released and transferred to a safer place with her family".

The activist adds that the name of the Christian woman "cannot be included in the Exit Control List [as the extremists would like, which in fact would not allow her to leave the country - ed], because Asia is not investigated in any other case". Finally he hopes that the example of the case of Asia Bibi, a clear manipulation of justice for personal ends, "may lead to the amendment of the blasphemy law".